Lions Industries for the Blind, Inc. recently endowed a scholarship through the Lenoir Community College Foundation.
“We are excited about the Lions Industries for the Blind scholarship and the opportunities it provides to our students,” LCC Director of Institutional Advancement Jeanne Kennedy said. “The scholarship demonstrates the Lions Industries for the Blind’s commitment to education and to its employees,” she said.
“Our board strongly believes in education, providing training opportunities for the visually impaired and providing dignified employment opportunities,” LIB Board Chairman Rick Landis said. “We have been blessed with good business success and we wish to share it in the form of this scholarship.”
LIB Executive Director Ray Amyette said LIB has always encouraged its employees to continue their education by providing an education reimbursement program. “With the technology available today, visually impaired students are able to participate better than in the past,” he said. “We have success stories of our employees such as my assistant, Teresa Harper. She wanted to take a class and so I took a computer class with her. We then enrolled in a second class and after that she continued, transferred from LCC to ECU where she took her classes online and graduated,” he said.
An eligible scholarship applicant must have a 3.0 grade-point average, be a full-time student, reside in Lenoir County or county east of Interstate 95, must be visually impaired and demonstrate financial need. First consideration will be given to LIB employees.
“Our success has allowed expansion of employment opportunities and facilities offered to the blind and visually impaired,” Amyette said. “We have also been able to provide employment for those with other serious disabilities such as deafness, retardation, diabetes and orthopedic problems. LIB will continue to offer its clients the employment opportunities and experience they need to take their place as a productive member of society.”
Since October 2002, LIB has made its home at 4126 Berkeley Ave. The move to this site increased the space for LIB to carry out its operation to 40,500 square feet. Through the work and cooperation of its Board of Directors, many Lions Club members, and its employees, LIB has achieved a reputation for providing viable jobs to blind and visually impaired residents in Eastern North Carolina.